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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: An Unwelcome Guest
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“Ugh, this is so damn annoying.”
Sembus scratched his head roughly.
His gray hair, like a fine layer of ash, scattered messily.
He was a senior priest of the Great Sea God’s Grand Temple, mainly responsible for matters such as negotiations.
In other words, it was no exaggeration to say he held a rather important position within the Grand Temple.
*To think that I, of all people, had to travel all the way to this backwater!*
Sembus grumbled as he stared out the window.
He had been on a mana train for three days, and after getting off, he’d been traveling by carriage for another two.
This was all because his destination, the Sun God’s Grand Temple, was tucked away in a corner of the western region.
His eyes fell disapprovingly on the poorly maintained forest path, and he recalled the saint he had met a few days prior.
*‘Our precious little lamb is currently under the persecution of the wicked Sun God. Go and rescue the lamb before he is harmed.’*
It was an order to go and retrieve the assassin, Jeremy Kals, who had been captured after infiltrating the Sun God’s Grand Temple.
If it weren't for the saint’s command, he never would have come to this filthy backwater.
*Well, it’s not like there was anyone better suited for the job than me.*
And who was Jeremy Kals?
He was a talent upon whom the notoriously greedy Great Sea God had personally bestowed a baptism.
If he failed to bring him back, it might not be the saint, but the Great Sea God himself who would punish him.
Therefore, he had to succeed.
“Your Holiness, we have arrived.”
A long while after entering the mountain where the Grand Temple was located, the carriage finally came to a halt.
Sembus grimaced, patting his sore backside as he stepped out of the carriage. And he was surprised.
“They said the Sun God’s faction was in ruins, and it’s really true.”
The Grand Temple of the Great Sea God was a place where splendid, magnificent iron gates intimidated visitors.
But what about this place?
All there was were two holy knights standing before an old iron gate with peeling paint.
There were no high walls, no majestic statues.
“This is Senior Priest Sembus from the Grand Temple of the Great Sea God. Open the gate.”
The holy knight of the Great Sea God who had accompanied him raised his voice. He, too, was clearly looking down on the pathetic Sun God’s Grand Temple.
“We were not informed of any visit from the Grand Temple of the Great Sea God today.”
But instead of opening the gate immediately, the gatekeeper talked back.
Sembus’s face twisted in displeasure.
“Now that I have confirmed the crest of the Grand Temple of the Great Sea God, I will go and inform those inside. Please wait here until permission is granted.”
Ignoring them, one of the holy knights went inside, while the other blocked the path.
Sembus was truly furious.
“This is a senior priest who has come in person from the Grand Temple of the Great Sea God! How can you be so rude!”
The Great Sea God’s holy knight bellowed.
The Grand Temple of the Great Sea God was the most renowned in the empire. It was beyond comparison to a failing temple like this, yet they were being treated with such disrespect!
“Are you saying that the direct orders of our High Priest and the Captain of our Holy Knights are rude?”
However, the Sun God’s holy knight, far from backing down, raised his eyes and took a step forward.
“No matter who it is, the strict order is to not let any unapproved outsiders in until permission is granted. If you do not wish to wait, you may turn back as you are.”
If he had his way, he would turn back this instant. He wanted to spit on the ground and call them insufferable fools.
But Sembus closed his eyes and endured.
He had a noble mission that he absolutely had to succeed in.
*Insolent bastards. I’ll make them pay dearly for this.*
Sembus glared at the gatekeeper.
“You may enter.”
A short while later, the entrance opened.
Sembus ignored the gatekeeper who offered to guide him and strode inside.
And he was even more shocked than he had been when he saw the main gate.
*Is this really a Grand Temple?*
A ruined garden, exposed patches of dirt, a building in dire need of repair, and even the worn-out clothes of the people passing by.
It was so shabby it was hard to believe it was a Grand Temple.
*At this rate, getting Jeremy Kals back should be easy.*
The surprise was fleeting; a sneer soon formed on Sembus’s face.
He didn't know how a shoddy place like this managed to capture the likes of Jeremy Kals, but if he flashed a little money, they would probably lose their minds and come running.
“May the light of the sun be with our guest. Greetings. I am Dietrich Warren, a priest of the Sun God’s Grand Temple.”
As he reached the entrance, a young man with red hair greeted him.
What was this now? He, a senior priest, had come in person, and the Sun God’s Grand Temple sends out a young whelp like this as an escort?
“Ahem. I was expecting to see the High Priest right away. He must be busy. I don’t see anyone else either…”
It was a pointed remark, implying that only someone of the Sun God High Priest’s stature was on his level.
“Then again, I heard the situation at the Sun God’s Grand Temple is not very good. A regrettable state of affairs.”
Sembus caustically mocked the current state of the Sun God’s Grand Temple, which had to send out a young man because they didn't even have any other senior priests.
“The High Priest will not be coming out. He is a man of many duties, so it is extremely difficult for him to make time.”
“…You’re saying I won’t be able to see the High Priest?”
“Yes. As the senior priest in charge of all internal affairs of the Sun God’s Grand Temple, there is no need for the High Priest himself to come when I am here.”
Sembus’s eyes widened.
This brat, who looked to be in his twenties at most, was a senior priest?
To become a senior priest, one needed not only to have made significant contributions but also to possess strong divine power. Was this young man truly at that level?
*…No, that can’t be. They must be short on talent, so they just put some moderately strong guy in the position for show.*
The thought calmed him down a little. This was not the time to waste on a nobody like this.
“I have matters that I must discuss with the High Priest in person. So I would appreciate it if you would guide me.”
“I see. You must be in quite a hurry.”
Just then, the man twisted his lips and made a cryptic remark.
Sembus’s eyes flew open at the barb in his words, but he had no time to ask what he meant.
“This way, please.”
The man with the unpleasant gaze, who had been staring at him, spun around and walked ahead.
He wanted to grab him by the hair and force him to his knees right then and there, but…
*I must endure it. If I get kicked out without meeting the High Priest, it’s over for me too!*
He had to swallow his anger by recalling the Great Sea God’s fury.
Sembus gritted his teeth and followed the man.
To make matters worse, the man walked so fast that Sembus had to hurry to keep up, which only fueled his frustration.
“I have brought the guest.”
Just as he was about to run out of breath, Dietrich stopped. The ornate door clearly belonged to a room of someone of no ordinary status.
He was thinking it was a relief to finally be able to meet the High Priest.
“Come in.”
The moment the door opened with a young woman’s voice, Sembus’s eyes shot wide open.
A woman was sitting in a room brightly flooded with sunlight.
A white dress with ornate golden embroidery, long, wavy pink hair cascading down, and a captivating, elegant appearance.
And the golden eyes that stared directly at him.
Sembus was momentarily overwhelmed by the sight of the woman, who radiated the golden light symbolizing the sun.
“Pay your respects. This is Lady Ordel, the Saintess of the Sun God’s Grand Temple.”
The Saint…!
Sembus was flustered.
To think the failing Sun God’s Grand Temple actually had a Saintess!
He had expected to meet the High Priest at most!
“What are you doing, not greeting the Saintess?”
At that moment, the holy knight with piercing blue eyes standing behind the Saintess slammed the pommel of his sword on the floor.
An aura of intimidation so powerful emanated from him that the holy knight Sembus had brought with him couldn't even utter a word.
“This is Sir Seth Noel, the Captain of the Holy Knights of the Sun God’s Grand Temple. Pay your respects.”
Dietrich’s introduction made Sembus feel dizzy.
A Captain of the Holy Knights, on top of a Saintess.
He hesitated, but after his eyes met the Captain's once more, he finally lowered his head.
“M-May the mercy of the Great Sea be with you. I am Sembus, a senior priest from the Grand Temple of the Great Sea God. I… I greet the Saintess and the Captain of the Holy Knights of the Sun God.”
“Please, have a seat.”
The Saintess had given him permission, but for some reason, he felt as if he were sitting on a bed of nails.
Dammit! Why is the presence of the Saintess and the Captain of the Holy Knights so strong in this collapsing temple!
“I was quite surprised to hear that someone from the Grand Temple of the Great Sea God had visited. And without any notice at that. I was under the impression our exchanges had ceased long ago.”
The Saintess smiled as she chided him for his rude visit.
He should have scoffed and told her to know her place, but the words wouldn't come out.
“Ah, but then again, I suppose it is a matter urgent enough to warrant such a rush, isn’t it?”
“…Pardon?”
“Because it would be quite troublesome if it became known that the Great Sea God’s side attempted to assassinate a Saintess.”
Sembus’s eyes widened.
Assassination? The assassination of a Saintess!
The order given to Jeremy was clearly to kidnap a suitable priest!
*But I can’t say that!*
Wouldn't that be a confession from his own mouth?
Having lost the crucial upper hand in the negotiation from the very start, Sembus clenched his teeth.
